Northern Quarter, Manchester

Creative Tourist

Last Updated 22 August 2018

Manchester’s most characterful, independent district is a jumbled network of streets to one side of Piccadilly Gardens – once home to busy textiles warehouses and even the occasional umbrella factory. Now, the red brick buildings with their New York-style fire escapes are regularly used in film sets, and the streets are bursting with independent cafés, shops, bars, and cultural hotspots.

The Northern Quarter has become a destination in its own right, with the laid-back, bohemian vibe during the day transforming at night into teeming pavements of people in search of good food, craft beer, pop-up events and live music.

Image by Ben Williams, Creative Tourist

When walking around, keep your eyes peeled for public art, including the sculptures of birds high on a wall on John Street (reflecting the area’s reputation in Victorian times as a ‘pets paradise’), the illuminated, 12 metre-tall Big Boys Toy on the top of the NCP car park, and the artistic graffiti on the outhouse in the middle of Stevenson Square.

No Matter #4 welcomes poets Emma Bolland, #Interrupteur artist-writer in residence at the University of Sheffield, Poetry Wales editor Nia Davies and Rebecca Tamás, whose new collection will be published by Penned in the Margins in 2019. Bring your change purse – there will be book and pamphlet buying opportunities.

Join us as we learn about the creation of the Northern Quarter as we know it today, find out the major names behind some of the area’s oldest street art and sculpture, and see how modern arts and community movements in Manchester hope to continue to drive creativity within the neighbourhood.

Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) presents a selection of photographs from the award-winning series Hong Kong Soup: 1826 by photographer Mandy Barker (b. 1964, UK). The series demonstrates in an ironically beautiful way, the extent of plastic pollution in our oceans.

For her first UK solo exhibition, Taiwan-born artist Charwei Tsai presents ‘Bulaubulau’ – a body of work that demonstrates her devoted interest in spiritual traditions and research in indigenous tribes in Taiwan.

We are lucky to be spoilt for choice when it comes to fresh, delicious and independent food choices in the centre of Manchester. Nowhere is this presence felt more than in the Northern Quarter. Join John Ryan on this taster walk as you eat your way through the back streets learning about the local history and culture as you go.

Satisfy your hunger for knowledge as well as lunch with Scranchester’s food tours of the city centre. You may discover a new favourite hidden gem or learn a bit more about the cultural or historical significance of the food you eat all the time.

Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) as part of their festive weekend will be hosting their monthly free and informal tour of the building as well as their current exhibitions. Ending with some warming winter treats.